Trolley harp



B. R. REED TROLLEY'HAHP Dec. 31, 1940.

Filed Feb. 6, 1939 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1940 imirso STATESPATENT'OFFICE Buckley R. Reed, Longacre, W. ApplicationFebruary 6, 1939,Serial No. 254,362

3 Claims.

My invention relates totrolley harps.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a trolley harpthat is adapted to assure a good electrical contact regardless of theangle that the trolley pole assumes.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a trolley harpthat isparticularly adapted to be used when the current supply Wire is close tothe ground, as in coal mines and similar places.

Yet another object of my invention is the provision of a trolley harp,the unique construction of which will materially increase the life ofthe harp.

. Still another object of my invention is the provision of a trolleyharp that is simple in construction, efiicient in operation, andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will beapparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, and showing its associationwith a trolley pole,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure1,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure4, and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective View of the yoke and collectorrings, embodying a part of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l0 designatesan electrically conducting wire with which my device is adapted tocooperate to transmit the current therefrom to the motor. andappurtenances of the trolley or mine locomotive. The trolley pole I2terminates in a substantially wedge shaped end l3 which is embraced bythe bifurcations l4 and [5 of the head IS. The head I6 is held firmly tothe pole I2 by means of the transversely extending bolt ll. Extendingangularly from the bifurcations I4 and I5 is a substantially cylindricalportion l8 formed with upper and lower flanges I9 and 2B and having anopening 22 therebetween extending through the front wall thereof andcommunicating with the vertical bore 23.

Pivotally mounted in the bore 23 is a yoke 24 formed with asubstantially circular base 25 having the knob 26 integrally formed onits upper surface. Depending centrally from the base is a reducedcylindrical portion 2'! provided with a 5 vertical bore 28 whichreceives the bolt 29. The bolt 29 extends beyond the plane of the lowerportion of the head I6 and carries in abutting relation thereto thewasher 30 of substantially greater diameter than the bore 28. The locknut 3| and cotter pin 32 maintain the yoke 24 pivotally secured to thehead 16. The bore 28 is provided with a substantially larger annularrecess 33 substantially centrally of the cylindrical bore 21 and thesegmental opening 33 is adapted to register with the opening 22 in thehead I6. A coil spring 34 is carried by the bolt 29 within the annularrecess 33 and has outwardly extending ends 35 and 36 adapted to engagethe side walls of openings 33 and 22 and to exert a steadying action onthe yoke 24 to normally position the same in horizontal alignment withthe pole 12 but permitting a pivotal movement thereof against theresilient action of the spring 34. The base 25 of the yoke 24 is formedwith arms 31 and 38 extending upwardly and forwardly thereof andterminating in spherically curved extremities havin horizontallyaligning, substantially square openings 39 therethrough. The collectordisks 4| positioned between the arms 31 and 38 are formed with squarebosses 49 adapted to be fitted into the openings 39. A

spindle 42 extends transversely through the collector disks 4| and isheld against rotation by the cotter pin 43 which is inserted through arm31. The arm'38 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedapertures 44 and 45 having the outer end thereof closed by means of setscrews 43. The inner ends of the set screws form seats for the coilspring 41 which bear against the outer face of the collector disk 41 toforce the same inwardly in appressed relation to the hub of the wheel48. The wheel 48 is mounted for rotation on the spindle 42, and of theusual construction, having an annular groove 49 at its periphery toreceive the wire ID therein. The springs 41 will exert sufficienttension on the outer face of the collector disk 4| to hold the wheel 48in appressed relation with the inner faces of the collector rings,thereby assuring a good electrical contact therebetween.

Flexible conductor strips 5|, of copper plait or the like, are securedto the outwardly projecting ends of the bosses and extend to a pointsubjacent thereof on the arms 31 and 38, and assure a good electricalconnection between the wheel 48 and yoke 24. A similar conductor strip52 has its upper end attached to the knob 26 on I the yoke and its lowerend thereof bolted, or

otherwise secured, to the lower flange IQ of the head [6. The strip 52assures a good electrical connection between the relatively movableparts 24 and Hi.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that mine locomotivesare sometimes required to operate in low seams of coal where the ceilingis very low, and the trolley pole is sometimes in a substantiallyhorizontal position. My device is particularly adapted to operate underthese unfavorable conditions as well as any other angle which thetrolley pole may ordinarily assume. A restricted pivotal. movement isallowed the yoke 24 relative to the pole by virtue of the coil spring 34which also functions to maintain the wheel 48 in horizontal alignmentwith wire I on straight sections of the line. The collector disks may beeasily and expeditiously removed and replaced by new ones in the eventthat they be- .come worn and. inefficient.

It is to be understood that the form of my in- Vention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: 1. In a trolley harp, a yokehaving horizontally aligning openings in the forked portion thereof, atleast one shank of said fork having a plurality ,of substantially smallbores spaced from the opening; collector rings having enlarged headportions disposed between the forks, which head portions overlay thesmall bores and tubular shank portions extending outwardly through andsnugly but slidably received by the openings in the forks; a spindlebridging the forks and with its ends exclusively supported by the shankportions of the collector rings; a wheel mounted for rotation on thesaid spindle intermediate the enlarged head portions of the collectorrings and having hub portions provided with essentially large, flatcontact faces which frictionally engage thev said head portions;adjustable plugs screw-threadedly received in the small bores of theyoke; and spring means interposed between the plugs and the collectorring to continually urge the head portions into pressed engagement withthe essentially large faces of the hub, said plugs being adjustable tovary the tension on the spring means and to compensate for wear on thesaid hub and collector rings.

2. In a trolley harp, a yoke having horizontally aligning openings inthe forked portion thereof, at least one shank of said fork having aplurality of substantially small bores spaced from the opening;collector rings having enlarged head portions disposed between theforks, which head portions overlay the small bores and tubular shankportions extending outwardly through and snugly but slidably received bythe openings in the forks; a spindle bridging the forks and with itsends exclusively supported by the shank portions of the collector rings;means to hold the spindle against rotation; a wheel mounted for rotationon the said spindle intermediate the enlarged head portions of thecollector rings and having hub portions provided with essentially large,flat contact faces which frictionally engage the said head portions;adjustable plugs screwthreadedly received in the small bores of theyoke; and spring means interposed between the plugs and the collectorring to continually urge the head portions into pressed engagement withessentially large faces of the hub, said plugs being adjustable to varythe tension on the spring means and to compensate for wear on the saidhub and collector rings.

3. In a trolley harp, a yoke having horizontally aligning openings inthe forked portion thereof, at least one shank of said fork having aplurality of substantially small bores spaced from the opening;collector rings having enlarged head portions disposed between theforks, which head portions overlay the small bores and tubular shankportions extending outwardly through and snugly but slidably received bythe openings in the forks; electrical conductors connected at one enddirectly to the extending shank portion of the collector rings and atthe other end directly to the said yoke; a spindle bridging the forksand with its ends exclusively supported by the shank portions of thecollector rings; a wheel mounted for rotation on the said spindleintermediate the enlarged head portions of the collector rings andhaving hub portions provided with essentially large, fiat contact faceswhich frictionally engage the said head portions; adjustable plugsscrew-threadedly received in the small bores of the yoke; and springmeans interposed between the plugs and the collector ring to continuallyurge the head portions into pressed engagement with the essentiallylarge faces of the hub, said plugs being adjustable to vary the tensionon the spring means and to compensate for wear on the said collectorrings.

